Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-26
RIDDLEBERGER'S STATEMENT
CONCERNING HIS ARREST AND 1MPRIsON'
MENT FOR ALLEGED CONTEMPT or
COURT.

/
and imprisonment for contempt OF the
county court of this county. have now
concluded to make statement because OF
the partial and with a single eXception)
untruthtul reports telegraphed over the
country, and the hasty comments OF the
press thereon. If there had been little
patience, further legal proceedings would
have developed all the facts. But bloody
head lines and Intentionally falsiiied dis
patches brought additional telegraph OPP
orators and reporters of some of the daily
press here, which had the effect of crea-
ting more than usual excitement in this
rural community. To all persons l de-
clined to speak of the facts Of the matter,
and requested friends to do likewise, so
that, with the exception referred to, these
dispatches proceeded from sources person
ally and politically hostile to me.
Now TO the facts
There live within the limits of this
Corporation" two pulpitless preachers
the one has spent years Of his life in fruit
less endeavor to raTing the fabric of his
own church. and the other has record
along the line of the Shenandoah Valley
r. K. which will speak for itself One is
named Wetzel, the other Moore, and both
now live in retirement on their tdrmsO
For a neighbor these quondam teachers Of
charity have one w. w. Jones, who has
been arraigned several times for oifenses,
the gravity of which will appear further
on. On several occasions have defend
ed Jones, but in each case it was for al
legged wrongs done to one or both of these
gentlemen. Jones is poor, deaf, and the
last jury said, crazy. Jones lives in a
small house separated by narrow road
from an old outlying field of Moores,
which was permitted to grow up in black
berries For the offense of walking across
this road and picking less than a pint
(tin-cup) of these berries this good Sama-
ritan had Jones arrested for trespass, the
trial of W hich resulted in a fine of $3.50
and costs, OF imprisonment in default OF
payment. Jones also had peach tree
near fence of the other Ri. Rev. over
which a heavily laden under-branch hung.
Jones propped the limb from Wetzeps side
in way to iDjure nothing, and he, who
had doubtless hurled many anathema' at
the Levite who passed by on the other
side" knocked out this unOfiending prop
in one round. recite these facts to show
how this Peter Simple duel had its origin.
1t is noteworthy that this same Moore was
on the special grand jury of November,
1886, which indicted Jones, and which re-
suited in his failing for 10 days
Passing over the other complaints
against Jones, which are now vitiated by
the verdict "that he was and is insane"
| come to consider the last cases VS.. him.
The one indictment is for stealing rails
from J. L. Burner to the value Of 20 cents,
and the other for stealing rails and posts
from Rev. Wetzel to the value Of one dol
! lar. This same Moore was again on the
grand Jury. 1t will be noticed that this
last offense was committed more than a
year ago, and although cognizable 10y }.
p, nothing was said or done about it till
this same Moore got upon a special grand
Jury. In the Burner case there was no
appearance by either of the "Burner Boys"
as they are generally called here, and new
or would have been. Nevertheless, this
same special grand jury must, and did,
/ find an indictment for the 20 cents worth
Of rails, which consisted of one rail broken
for two rider stakes
The case on the one dollar indictment
was called Thursday morning. / was sent
for to appear for Jones. l returned an
swer that was not in physical condition
to walk to the court house and try case.
Importuned by another and third mes
senger, l concluded to 60, and did so. On
arrival found fiyo of the fraternity had
volunteered for the defense. These were
General Williams, Judge Allen, Messrs.
Walker d Keller and Mr.. w. w. Logan.
None had hope of fee. The case was a
misdemeanor, even the one dollar valua-
ton being an exaggeration. The atten-
ton of the court was called to the fact that
/ there was no prosecutor marked, and
request made that this be inquired into
The court inquired of Moore, who higgled
and shrked. Wetzel was called and did
likewise. At this point the real animus
Of another than Moore began to show
itself. For the same reason that hesitated
to leave home l had to quickly quit the
court house. On my return heard that
nv friend Genl. Williams had asked the
court to assign COUNSEL that the court
had named Judge Allen, who declined, and
that Genl. Williams accepted. On ac-
count of my peculiar relations to the case,
and former defenses of the client, re-
NAMED with the other four or five attor-
neys.
Necessarily absent again for very brief
period, returned to find that the plea OF
insanity had been filed and the common
wealth's attorney on his feet arguing for
its acceptance, on the ground as believed,
and still believe, that he knew he could
not convict anG that this would consign
Jones to a long imprisonment to the graft
fcation of the higgling prosecutors.
This is the particularly unpleasant part
of this statement | differed with my
colleagues, believing as had a right to
do, that / was the employed counsel in
the case, and my responsibility, as SUCH
could not he relieved, after appearance,
by an order assigning other counsel. l
argued against the plea of insanity, and
for verdict of not guilty. The jury rem
dered verdict that the accused SIS in
sane" The question was raised as to
whether insanity existed at the time OF
the alleged commission of the oiiense.-
Physicians testified and second verdict
was 1endered for the defendant on the
plea before mentioned. All done IN less
time than the printer can put this in type.
Then followed the wonderful placard, by
homsoever written, or in what language,
is a fair delneatiOn of the oddities, cruel
ties and tyrannies of this momentous trial
A rule was at once issued requiring me to
show cause, &c, and this was served on
an aged mother at my home, when was
at no time beyond the hearing of the
crer's call To this time have not seen
the rule, as she was in the act of leaving
my homo at the moment she received IT.
But learning Of its existence appeared in
| . , ..1 49, III haar1 of tho